Dr Sheikh Muszaphar: Hero of Malaysia

21 October 2007,

It was the final day for Dr Sheikh Muszaphar to be in space after 12 days he live at International Space Station (ISS). He cannot sleep even though the commander of the ISS asked him to do so. He need to enjoy every moment on that day. By looking out the window, he could see the small blue Earth that surrounded by thousands of galaxies,millions of stars, deep blue ocean, glaciers and snows. It was like a magical, miracle and the most beautiful scenery to him. 

Allahu Akhbar!

But still.. It was the time to say goodbye to space.

   

OUR EARTH

22 October 2007,

After through the emergency landing, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar finally back to the earth. Alhamdulillah!! Allahu Akhbar! Allahu Akhbar! Allahu Akhbar! From that time, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar was completed his journey to space and become an idol,hero to all Malaysian. His achievement has prove that Malaysia now be in the same level with other country. This also proved that 'MALAYSIA BOLEH' and also show that 'MALAYSIAKU GEMILANG'. One of the achievement that we can proud and become a historic moment to all Malaysian.

Sheikh Muszaphar was believe with this statement, ' It's not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for the country'. This is what Sheikh Muszaphar want to do. He did not want to just get married, have kids and live a 'normal' life. He want to contribute something that valuable  and can be proud to this country. And yes! He finally achieve his goals. 

After he achieved his dream to be an Astronaut:

1. He become role model and an Idol for Malaysian
2. He encouraged people to think out of the box and believe with themselves
3. 10 January 2008, he was awarded to be 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah' for Negeri Sembilan
4. 10 October 2010, he get married with Dr Harlina
5. He got two beautiful children, Sophea Isabella and Sophea Natasha

" If I can do it, why can't they?"

For the conclusion, there are a lot of thing and positive values that we can learn from Dr Sheikh Muszaphar. He have proved that nothing is impossible in this world and all of our dreams can be reality if we  work hard to achieve that dream. Besides, we also can learn that, to be a successful person, we need to have leadership skills, high spirit, able to work as a team and never easily give up. 

An Idol was born and his name is Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor. He was a Malaysia's Astronaut, a part time model, a doctor, a businessmen, a husband, a motivator, and he also a father for two beautiful daughters. 

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and his family

For the conclusion,  I hope that this blog will inspire to all readers to be successful like Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and always believed that, you also can be extraordinary and outstanding persons, just like him. Thank you!

References:

Newspaper:  http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=307031

http://www.budiey.com/majlis-kahwin-dr-sheikh-muszaphar-shukor-dr-harlina-ahad-ini/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sz-aZ_mqVxs

10 October 2007: The Historic Moment

On 10 October 2007, it was the day! Dr Sheikh Muszaphar will be launched to the space. On that day also, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar not only represents Malaysian to complete his journey to space but he also becomes the eyes and ears of all Malaysian. He will carry a big responsibility for our nation and he need to make sure that this mission becomes one of the memorable moment to all Malaysian.

On top of that, Sheikh Muszaphar also will show to all Malaysian how he pray and fast in space.  

The time came. All systems were in checks. The engines were running. 5,4,3,2,1… And we lift off!!!

The Soyuz Capsule was launched successfully. Everything feels light and floated. It such an amazing feeling for him! Everything was like a dream! And yes… He get the opportunity to see the Earth in front of his eyes. It was so beautiful and calm!

After he reaches the space station, Dr Sheikh will conduct several scientific experiments. His first experiments consist of cancer cells and the protein crystals. This material must be handling gently as it can easily broken. In fact, this experiments was the main reason he was in space and he really hoped that he managed to complete his experiments and find the cure for many diseases such as cancer.

Sheikh Muszaphar is doing the scientific experiments

Reference:

Youtube:

 http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=soyuz%20tma%2011%20launch&oq=soyuz%20tma%2011&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0l3.1252955.1263438.1.1266567.25.13.11.0.2.1.1300.6907.0j1j1j1j2j1j3j2.11.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.BOh4Phr3n_0
   

The Final Selection Begins

From 11, 425 candidates, only EIGHT candidates were shortlisted and this list was announced by Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis on 9 February 2006. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is one of candidates that were listed. From this moment,   Dr Sheikh Muszaphar realized that his dream was getting closer to become reality.

On 15 March 2006, Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the final four of Astronauts at TUDM Subang. The final four were:

1. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha, 34, Orthopaedic Surgeon
2. Vanajah Siva, 35, Senior quality engineer
3. Dr Faiz Khaleed, 26, Armed forces dental surgeon
4. Mohammed Faiz Kamaluddin, 34, Malaysian Airlines pilot

The final four candidates from 11, 425 applicants

Three male and one female. The competition between four good friends begins now!

Who is the first Malaysia Astronaut?

For your information, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and three candidates need to wait for two month to know the result. At that time, Sheikh Muszaphar and Faiz still working like usual, whereas Vanajah had quit her job. Every Candidate gives their full commitment to be the best in this program and represent our nation. Who is going to be chosen? A doctor?  A female candidate? But no one knows the result.

On 4 September 2006, the name of two final candidates was announced at Komplex Bunga Raya, KLIA. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar is the first candidate that has been chosen to become the first Malaysia Astronaut and Faiz Khaleed was the backup crew.

The final two candidates, Dr Sheikh Muszaphar and Dr Faiz Khaleed

That was his destiny and finally Dr Sheikh Muszaphar has make his dream become reality. Congratulation to him!

Reference:

1)Newspaper:  http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=289325

One in a MILLION: Are you one of that?

"We will make our selection, regardless of gender, based on someone who fulfills the requisite criteria, not necessarily a scientist or a pilot but someone who can be trained to be an Astronaut " ( Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Razak, 2007)

From this quotation, we can conclude that this Astronaut Programme is one of the platforms that give opportunity to all Malaysian to be an Astronaut. But it is not an easy task to get that opportunity. There are a lot of challenges and tests that we need to face. On top of that, it also not an easy task to select the first Malaysia Astronaut. We need to be an extraordinary and perfect person in order to be chosen.

For your information, this program took a year to choose the best candidates. There are 11,425 candidates and only ONE will be selected. Because of that, the selection was tough and need to be evaluated smartly. Besides, it is not only based on luck and your career. It’s the matter either you have it or not. Even the minor mistake can make you out from the program. This means, the candidates must perfectly fit and managed to go through the nine stages that have stated.

One of the stages that the candidates need to pass is aero medical examinations.  The criteria that we need to pass in this examination are:

1. 6/6 vision
2.  Perfect hearing 
3. No fillings in your teeth  
4. Not have any operation scars

After the candidates pass this examination, there are other next stages that need to be through. The doctors then will evaluate organs in the body, test the blood and also does the urine test. This stage requires you to be free from any diseases. Can you imagine how tough this selection process? Only the best candidates can have the chance to go to space in this expensive mission. They need to choose candidates that ‘almost’ perfect in all aspects such as need to be free from any diseases, outstanding from other candidates, have mental strength and good attitude. Those are some criteria that have Sheikh Muszaphar and other candidates have gone through.

' What the mind believes, the body can achieve '

One of movie that inspired Sheikh Muszaphar to be an Astronaut

'Did I believe I could be an Astronaut? 

This is what Dr Sheikh Muszaphar thikns when he first applied for the Angkasawan Programme and this also what we called changes. The changes that happened in Dr Sheikh Muszaphar's life that only starts will the simple word, DREAM. The dream of 10 years old boy that wanted to be an Astronaut. But everything changed after 24 years later, when he finally makes his dreams come true.

How it all started..

 On that day, Sheikh Muszaphar was working at the HUKM hospital as usual. After finished examining his patient on that morning, his phone rang. It was called from Sheikh Arwiz, his youngest brothers. He was told that there was an offer to become the first Malaysia Astronaut on the internet. 

It such ONE-IN-A-MILLION chance for him!

Requirements to be Malaysia’s Astronaut:

• Have a degree
• At least 21 years old

And yes. He already fulfills those requirements. That was his chance to prove to himself that he can achieve his dream. At that time, Sheikh Ahmad and Sheikh Arwiz had already filled in their application and they also encouraged Dr Sheikh Muszaphar to do so.

At 5 pm,

He immediately switched his computer and accesses the internet. It is true that there is an application form from the National Space Agency and during that time, there were already 4324 persons that apply for that opportunity.

In the nut shell, that was the starting moment for Dr SMS to involve in Astronaut Program.

A 10 years old's boy that dream to be an Astronaut 

 References:

1. Book, Journey to Space written by Sheikh Muszhaphar Shukor
2. Picture: http://cdn2.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/8713495/star_wars_logo_640_large_verge_medium_landscape.jpg 
3. Mars one News : http://www.mars-one.com/en/mars-one-news/11-news/316-mars-one-welcomes-astronaut-sheikh-muszaphar-as-ambassador